Vignette
Jerusalem was at the height of
prosperity. The times of conflict during the Hasmonean era under the
Maccabees were a distant memory. Now was a time of affluence, peace,
and growth. While the Jewish people did not enjoy the same
sovereignty of the past, they had been able during these times of
Roman rule to grow and become respected. Certainly Jerusalem was
considered one of the great Hellenistic cites of its time.
“He
who has not seen Jerusalem in its beauty, has not seen a beautiful
great city in his whole life; and who has not seen the building of
the Second Temple, has not seen a handsome building in his life. What
is meant by this? Said Abayi, according to others Rabbi Hisda: It
means the building of Herod. “
Philo, one
of the modern Hellenized Jews, described Jersualem during its
festivities:
“For
innumerable companies of men from a countless variety of cities, some
by land and some by sea, from east and from west, from the north and
from the south, came to the Temple at every festival”
These
pilgrims were economically crucial. They came from all corners of the
empire, bringing with them the latest news and innovations,
conducting both retail and wholesale
trade
and providing a living for large segments of the local population.
Jerusalem was prosperous and the material wealth and luxury of the
affluent and priestly classes were also evident. Powerful leaders
from Rome visited to view its splendor. Even Pliny the Elder the
famous Roman scholar had characterized her as:
“by
far the most famous city, not of Judea only, but of the East”
Timothy
lived in the shadow of the great city, just to the south, in the
nearby city of Bethlehem. He had returned that day from the Great
Sanhedrin – the supreme religious body of the land of Israel. He
worked in their great assembly hall. As a leader of the local
Sanhedrin, he had business to attend to. A member of the local
council and one of the local rabbis had brought to his attention that
one of the local members of the synagogue had come to believe in the
teachings of a recent agitator among the Jewish people.
This
agitator was teaching that the promised Messiah and the kingdom of
God were soon at hand. Certainly this is what they had been waiting
for. But he also taught against their established order. He claimed
that their own history had been a fulfillment of the writings of the
prophets showing that the times had arrived where the kingdom would
be taken from the Jewish people and given to the Gentiles. He
claimed to be a servant, sent from God to prepare the way for the
coming of the Lord. But he had no authority among the Jews. Only
those who had been called by God through the priestly authorities had
the right to speak in the name of God. If God had something to say
to the Jewish people, it would be through the High Priest – not
some lone trouble maker speaking in the wilderness.
“Jason,
my servant told me that you were hesitant to meet with me.”
“I
needed some time to pray. I've been fasting and seeking to know
God's will.”
“Jason,
I've received word that you have been listening to and following the
words of some man teaching in the wilderness. Is this true? Who is
this teacher?”
“He
is called John the Baptist.”
“And
this John the Baptist, what is he saying?”
“He
is preaching that we need to repent for the kingdom of heaven is at
hand. That we need to prepare for the Lord and make his paths
straight.”
“Is
he saying anything contrary to the teachings of the leaders of the
Great Sanhedrin?”
“He
is preaching that we have changed the rituals, setup our own rules
and laws. He is saying we need to get back to our original roots –
to the original teachings of the prophets.”
“And
do you believe this? Certainly we have continued in the law of
Moses. We follow with more exactness now. Have you been to the
temple recently? Have you participated in the rites and ceremonies?
If you go there, then you will be able to feel and know the truth
regarding these matters.”
“I
myself have seen some of the changes there. They have changed since
I first started going to the temple.”
“God
is able to change these rites according to His will. The leaders of
this people are inspired as to how to interpret and carry forth the
laws, rituals, and ceremonies. They are the only ones authorized by
God to do so. Do you believe that Caiphas speaks for God? Do you
believe that he is the only one who can speak for God? He and the
assembly of the 71 sages are the only true representatives of God
here on earth. Do you believe this?”
“I
did believe this once. But I don't believe this now. They don't
seem to bring forth the same fruits of men of God in the past. They
speak truths. They teach us to live good lives. They teach us to
follow the laws, but I have never heard any of them claim to have
received a revelation themselves. The changes to our customs and the
changes and additions to the law that I have observed and heard about
through our history seem to have mostly all happened behind the
scenes. It happens without any official pronouncement that this was
God's will or that a revelation has been received to make the change.
Each time a new rule is announced, or a new program is setup, we all
immediately assume that was due to God initiating the changes even
though no one ever claims to have received the revelation to do so
from God.”
“And
this John, does he claim to have seen God?”
“Yes.
He claims that he was sent with a message from God to be delivered
to the Jewish people.”
“Jason,
God does not work in this way. He is not a God of confusion. Why
would he send a message to the Jewish people in any other way then
through the leaders of this people? If God has a message for this
people, it will come through Caiphas.”
“I
don't know, but I have felt the Spirit witness to me that John speaks
the truth. His message is full of light and truth. He has expounded
upon and opened my eyes to the meanings of the writings of the
prophets in ways I never before had understood.”
“Only
God's leaders can correctly interpret the law and the writings of the
prophets. What is this message of John's?”
“Most
of it has been about the prophecies of our time and about the coming
forth of the Messiah. His message is in harmony with the words of
the prophets. He teaches directly from the words of the prophets in
all that he says.”
“Well,
if that is so, then it should not be a problem. So why has the local
Rabbi brought this to my attention? Why is he concerned?”
“He
also has taught that the Jews have lost their authority. He has
taught the Lord has used him as a means of overthrowing the kingdom
of the Jews and that the kingdom of God will be taken from them and
will be given to another people – to the Gentiles. He has taught
that we need to be baptized anew as a sign to God and that there will
be a new covenant.”
“This
is blasphemy. You must see this. We are God's chosen people. The
kingdom of God will not be taken from the Jewish people. Our
leaders have taught us that we will always continue as God's people
until the Messiah comes to rule and reign upon the earth. We will
always be God's chosen people.”
“But
even our own writings teach of the times of the Gentiles.”
“Yes,
but the Gentiles receive the blessings of God's word through us. We
are the seed of Abraham. Through us, the Gentiles and all the earth
will be blessed. All nations are blessed through the seed of
Abraham. That is the promise.
Regarding
this baptism of John. I have heard that you have been baptized. Is
this true?”
“Yes.
It has changed my life. I have felt the Spirit more since being
baptized. I have been changed, my heart and desires have been
changed as well. I no longer...”
“Jason,
you are being deceived. This John is an imposter. He has no
authority and has not been called of God through the proper order.
God always follows that order. You realize that there are to be no
rites performed except by the approved officiators. The Levites are
the only ones who can perform a spiritual rite and they do so only
under the authorization of the Sanhedrin and the Rabbis. You have
violated our rules by doing so. It is sacrilege to participate in
unauthorized rites. A council must be convened against you. It is
likely you will be removed from the synagogue.”
“There
is no need to convene a council. I sent a message to my Rabbi
letting him know that I would remove myself voluntarily. I do not
wish my friends to bring condemnation upon themselves by disciplining
me for following the words of a true messenger of God. I will leave
on my own.”
“You
realize that if you do this you will lose all your rights and
blessings.”
“Yes”
“You
come from a good Jewish family. Why would you turn your back on your
heritage? Why would you abandon all that you have received in order
to follow this imposter?”
“Because
the Spirit has told me that he is a true messenger. He speaks the
words of God.”
“So
be it. I see you cannot be convinced or reasoned with and that you
are set to abandon all that is good. I am very sorry to see you do
this. I wish you would reconsider.”
After
Jason left, Timothy sat and thought about how sad a situation this
was. One of his flock was being deceived and being led away -- now,
at the very time of their greatness – now, at the very time where
the kingdom was growing in strength and being received and looked to
by the other nations of the world. And soon the Messiah would come.
Once the Messiah came, the Jewish people would be able to throw off
the yoke of the Roman empire. The Jewish kingdom would rise again
like in the days of David and Solomon, but this time with the true
Messiah as their king. This fledgling movement among the Jewish
people would soon be crushed and fade away. And this John, this
imposter – this John the Baptist – he too would soon be lost to
history. Time would soon tell.
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